 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011magnitude limitsI started keeping a table in my palmtop to note the "deepest" sky that I've seen. Of course, location (and its ambient light pollution) is a factor. And how deep I can go also is improved with magnification. Presented in chronological order.
It is common to use Ursa Minor when estimating naked eye limits.
* The 18 Sep 09 entry is estimated. I know that I saw the Coathanger naked eye. The stars in the hook are around mag 5; the stars in the hanger (straight line part) are mag 6.1, 6.4, etc. ** The 18 Mar 10 entry was not reported by me. It was submitted by the Horvatin clan, as part of the Globe At Night survey, while they stayed at the CAO. I note it here simply because I use the same location and it shows what is possible... This list will be significantly updated through 2010. I did not make any proactive notes about magnitude limits for interesting locations (e.g. Mew Lake) nor interesting equipment (e.g. Phil's huge Dob or the Toronto Centre C14). It is a bit perturbing to think that if I keep editing this, updating it, for the next 10 years or so, that we may see a steadily decreasing limit... Hopefully not.
|
links
|
